Reflector signal



Jan. 10, 1939.- R F. HOLMES I REFLECTOR s am,

Filed June 6', 1936 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 PATENT c rries 2,143,151 REFLECTOR sremr.

Russell F. Holmes, Flint, Mich, asslgnor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application June c, 1936, seem No. 83,835

3 Claims.

This invention has to do with a back-reflecting device of the type used for road signs and on the rear of vehicles to return to the driver of a following car some of the light from his own 5 headlamps to give him the desired indication.

The invention relates to the type of back-reflecting device in which a lens is arranged in advance of a reflector so as to focus incident light thereon, the reflector returning the light, and the lens 10 redirecting it in a direction parallel to the direction of incidence.

The invention has to do with a. simple economical assembly of lens and reflector which will be best understood by reference to the drawing in 15 which Figure 1 is a front view of the improved reflector, and Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 thereof.

The lens preferably takes the form of a ball indicated at ill, although, if desired, conventional 20 types of lenses may be employed, either of the double convex or piano-convex type. At the foci of the lenses are provided reflectors I! which are of'spherical contour and are preferably formed by pzelsging out of a single sheet of metal indicated 25 a l4 and I6 indicate cooperating pressed metal housings, preferably having telescoped flanges as shown. The housing It is provided with apertures III in which the lenses I are seated as showmand 30 over the lenses is placed a gasket 20 having apertures 22 therein alined with the apertures I8 in the housing member It. Over the gasket is placed the reflector sheet l3 which preferably is provided with a flange 24 enabling the gasket to be assembled with the reflector prior to its introduction into the housing. Dent 25 in housing It with cooperating groove 26 in housing l6, groove 21 in flange 24 of reflector l3, and groove 28 in gasket '20 provide proper registration of parts.

The gasket 20 is preferably made of corkor of rubber of such composition as to not injuriousLy affect the reflector Over the reflector is placed the housing member l6, the flange of this member telescoping over 45 the flange on the reflector and within the flange on the housing member I. The two housing members are secured together by spacer 3| having shoulders as shown engaging the rear face of housing member I 4 and the front face of re- 50 flector l3, gasket 20 being perforated to permit passage of the spacer. The spacer has reduced extremities extending at one end through the front housing member and atthe other end through the reflector and rear housing member. 55 With the'parts pressed together as shown the extremities are headed over securing the parts together with the proper spacing between the balls and the reflector.

With the described arrangement the gasket 2. makes sealing contact with the lenses'and with 5 the metal of the reflector sheet l3 surrounding the reflector portions l2. Thus each of the reflectors is individually sealed against the entrance of dust and moisture. At the same time the gasket is preferably of suiflciently resilient construction so as to hold the balls 'flrmly seated against the apertures in the plate it.

Of course, if desired, the gasket 20 could be made of a number of parts as could also the reflecting sheet l3, but the described arrangement is preferable from the standpoint of durability and economy.

If desired, portions of the flange of housing I may be pressed in as at 3| to form stops. In assembly the reflector I3 is positioned with its edges in engagement with the stops, and when so positioned the reflectors are at the foci of the lenses In.

I claim:

1. The combination of a housing member having a plurality '0! apertures therein, lenses seated in said apertures, yieldable gasket means at the rear of the housing member provided with apertures in which the lenses are seated, a reflector in the rear of the gasket means and comprising a plurality of spherical reflecting surfaces registering with the apertures and surrounding portions engagingthegasket meansin sealingrelation, where by each of said reflecting surfaces is individually sealed against the entrance of dust, said housing member and reflector being provided with telev scoping flanges, and means for holding the parts in assembled relation.

2.. The combination of a housing member having a plurality of apertures therein, lenses seated 4o ln sald apertures, yieldable gasket means at the rear of the housing member provided with apertures in whichthe lenses are seated, a reflector in the rear of the gasket means and comprising a plurality of spherical reflecting surfaces register- 4 ing with the apertures and surrounding portions engaging the gasket means inrsealing relation, whereby each of said reflecting surfaces is individually sealed againstentrance of dust, a second housing member covering the rear of said reflector, said housing members being provided with telescoping flanges, and means for holding said parts in assembled relation.

3. The combination of a housing member having a plurality of apertures therein, lenses seated ll in said apertures. yieldable gasket means at the tion, whereby each 0! said reflecting surfaces is rear of the housing member provided with aperindividually sealed against entrance of dust, a tures in which the lenses are seated, a reflector second housing member covering the rear of said in the rear 01 the gasket means and comprising reflector, said housing members and reflector be- 5 a plurality of spherical reflecting surfaces regising provided with telescoping flanges, and means 5 tering with the apertures and surrounding porfor holding said parts in assembled relation. tions engaging the gasket-means in sealing rela- RUSSELL F. HOLMES. 

